NOTES ON THE MONTHS FOR FLY-FISHING. 199 



The Green Drake appears upon the lower portions of 

 the streams first, often being four days or a week later in 

 rising near the source, where the water, being colder from 

 the springs, retards its maturity. The season of these 

 flies varies in different localities. There are three lakes 

 at varying altitudes at Mullingar, in Ireland. The May 

 fly first makes its appearance upon the lower lake and is 

 plentiful, and the fishing here is good so long as these 

 flies remain on the water. They usually last ten or twelve 

 days, and when all is over on the bottom lake they com- 

 mence upon the next in elevation, where they also last 

 about the same period. Then the angler must travel a 

 little higher, to number three lake, and here the May fly 

 will just be found coming out, and the fishing is quite as 

 good as on the lower waters. The fish run large in these 

 lakes, not infrequently a four or six-pound trout is taken 

 in the day, and sometimes much larger fish are killed. 

 Throughout Ireland the May fly comes out in abundance 

 on many lakes. In Scotland, on the other hand, there is 

 very little Drake fishing. Upon a few odd lochs, the 

 Awe, Lomond, and others, a few of these flies make their 

 appearance, but sport is not good. Upon the other hand 

 the May flies are extremely abundant upon almost every 

 stream that produces trout, no matter in what latitude or 

 clime; and with regard to the exception referred to, the 

 Stone fly forms an admirable substitute, being equally 

 abundant at the precise time the Drakes should appear. 

 The fishy feast of St. May fly is annually looked forward 

 to by the major portion of fishermen as the "good time 

 coming." Many an old timid fish* that at other times 

 only ventures abroad by night, or at twilight, now boldly 

 makes its appearance at mid-day; and a long, thin, im- 

 derfed fish, with disproportionate head, will in a few days 

 become vigorously healthful and plump, and of nearly 

 double the strength it possessed previous to feeding on 

 the Green Drake. 



